Federal funding has again been awarded to Cheboygan County agencies for food and shelter needs, although the amount has decreased.

The area will receive $11,035 through the Emergency Food and Shelter Program, which will be split up between five agencies for housing and food. According to George Olson of the Cheboygan Salvation Army, the federal money is a lesser amount than was received during the last phase of funding, when it was around $13,000.

Olson said the Salvation Army, the Women’s Resource Center, the St. Thomas Food Pantry, the Lord’s Kitchen and the Cheboygan Community Food Bank of the Wesleyan Community Church will share the funding. The Salvation Army and Women’s Resource Center funds are designated for housing, with the other three serving as food banks.

A formula to divide up the funding between the local agencies was in place prior to Olson’s tenure with the Salvation Army, he noted. The Salvation Army gets nearly 50 percent, with other agencies receiving various percentages.

Any agency seeking funding to provide assistance with food or shelter in the county can apply to receive some of the funds that are awarded, Olson said. However, Olson said there is not a great need for additional agencies at this point, to avoid duplication of services.

“If a new agency were to petition for funding and qualified, we would probably give them a flat fee,” Olson noted. “But we feel we have it covered (with our current agencies).”

The total amount that is awarded to the county is determined by population and other factors, he explained. Olson said the award amount for this area used to be around $30,000 but has steadily decreased through the years.

However, any money, even a small amount, is better than nothing, he noted.

“We will take whatever they can give us,” Olson said. “But any one agency could easily take the whole amount and spend it very quickly.”

This is the only funding source for housing needs that the Salvation Army receives, in addition to what the agency raises through its Red Kettle campaign and other donations. In the Salvation Army’s case, the funding is then used to assist clients who may be struggling with paying their rent or their mortgage.

The Northeast Michigan Community Service Agency receives federal funding through an emergency shelter grant and does assist Cheboygan County residents, Olson noted. However, the Salvation Army can only refer clients to that agency and does not have direct access to those funds.

Other area funds take care of utility assistance, Olson noted. The United Way’s Walk For Warmth event that is held locally raises funds for that purpose, with the Salvation Army and Department of Human Services collaborating as well. Olson said area agencies are better served to put their efforts into raising funds through events like that, rather than depending on federal funding, which can be unstable.

Page 2 of 2 - Olson said appropriations for the next phase of funding for the Emergency Food and Shelter Program have not been completed by Congress and decisions will be postponed until March 27. The program could face a cut of $20 million from the 2012 fiscal year on a national level.